Cosplay Costumes

Costumes aren’t just for Halloween any more. Cosplay- dressing and acting the part of characters apart from the stage-  is really popular.  Comic con is a comic book and related arts convention, often space themed. Fans gather to meet artists, other creators, and each other- and often dress up as favorite characters. There are panels, book and art signings, and costume contests. There are similar cons for other areas of interest, some huge, some small.

My daughter writes Science Fiction and Post Apocalyptic YA books. She attends several Comic con events each year as a vendor, as it is good place to meet prospective readers. It wasn’t long before she decided that she wanted to dress up for events.

Her favorite Sci Fi show is Dr. Who, so we started there. The first costume was a very long, multi colored scarf (knitted by me) and a hat, representing the 4th Doctor, Tom Baker.

The second costume request was for a Tardis Costume (The Tardis is the British blue phone book look-a-like space ship the Doctor travels through space in- see previous photo). She had seen several variations on this theme at a Comic con. We used Simplicity 1095 as a starting point.

We made some significant changes. I shortened the corset about 4” for ease of movement, as it would be worn while working. The corset was quite straightforward to make, but lining up the designs on the front was rather picky. It laces up both the front and the back, and requires some help to put on.

We eliminated the long skirt and bustle, using just the short skirt with the addition of netting underneath. It is worn over leggings and boots. The shrug with attached hood completes the costume, and snaps to the corset on either side to hold it in place.

It has been worn a lot, and has held up well.

http://www.arielesieling.com/http://www.arielesieling.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pg/arielejsieling/https://www.facebook.com/pg/arielejsieling/

But costumes are like potato chips- one is never enough. 

Next time- the Steampunk Slytherin Costume.

Wearing History's 1934 Long Coat- Spring Version

I liked my 1934 Wearing History winter coat so much, I decided to make another version of it.

I had a piece of raincoat fabric in the stash that was just waiting for the right project.

I shrunk the collar as with the first one, and added another button hole, two decorative buttons, a belt, and sleeve belts. The coat is fully lined. I have no process photos, as I didn't originally plan to blog the project. If you are interested in the process, it was almost the same as with the first coat, just two blog posts behind this one.

These additions to the pattern give it a trench coat feel. 

It's perfect for a cool Spring or Fall day. 

If you are interested in this pattern, you can buy it here: http://wearinghistory.clothing/circa-1934-coat-pattern-bust-36/
And no, she doesn't pay me! I am just a fan of this company.

Hi all-
I have retired from sewing professionally and am starting to sell off my pattern collection. I am adding new items almost every day. Go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/GreatEastEmporium to see what I have for sale.
I am doing a lot of personal sewing now, and hope to start blogging regularly again soon!

Wearing History's 1934 Long Coat

I recently purchased the 1934 coat pattern from Wearing History to make myself a long, warm, winter coat. It only comes in one size. Fortunately, it was the right one for me.

I am allergic to wool, but located some polyester faux Melton at Vogue Fabrics. I chose faux fur for the collar and flannel back satin for the lining. After cutting out the pattern pieces, I did my usual pattern alterations- FBA, lengthened the back waist, and shortened the hem length by 3" .

The directions were brief but accurate, and the diagrams exceeded any I have seen in a Big 4 pattern in both quality and information. The pieces went together really easily. Everything lined up beautifully, and it fit me perfectly without additional alterations.

  

 I dislike working with fur because of the mess it makes, but I really wanted a fur collar.

The faux Melton was so thick I skipped the bound buttonhole and let my sewing machine make one for me, then made a covered button of black velveteen.

I personalized the pattern by making a few changes:

-Pockets. I lined them, and instead of attaching them as patch pockets, I inserted them into the seams on either side. They fit perfectly and enhance the sleek lines of the coat.

-Inner pocket. I added an inner pocket on the lining for my cell phone.

-I skipped the cuffs.

-I pinned very carefully and inserted the lining by machine instead of by hand.

I tested my new coat on Christmas Eve and on subsequent sub zero degree days. It is very warm, and I feel elegant wearing it. It is incredibly comfortable. This pattern gets a two thumbs up- I highly recommend it. I am hoping to make a double breasted, belted rain/trench coat from this pattern in the Spring.

The 20 year Quilt

This winter we remodeled our kitchen. For years a simple seed packet quilt, now old and faded, hung on one wall. 

It would be nice to have a new wall quilt for the new kitchen, but where to start? Digging through a bin of UFO’s I found the answer.

Twenty years ago I made the background for a pictorial appliqué wall quilt. I pieced the sky and grass, appliquéd a white picket fence, and added a black and white checked border. 

I don’t remember where I intended to go from there, except that it included sunflowers. There is no doubt the quilt I just completed is very different than the one I started.

There is a peacock, representing the flock we once had.

An orange cat, in memory of my favorite.

I have always loved dimensional fabric flowers, so they were a must.

I added bees, flowers, and watermelon, as beekeeping and gardening are big parts of out life. I created machine embroidered appliqué pieces for many of these, something I could not have done 20 years ago.

I used a variety of hand and machine sewing, appliqué and embroidery techniques, and quilted it using the hand look quilting stitch on my trusty old Bernina. It really does brighten up the room.

Jackets

I have always loved Jackets. When McCalls sponsored a Bomber Jacket Sew Along last fall, I decided it might be fun to sew along and try out their patterns using materials from my stash. 

First I made a sample jacket from Butterick 6181. I added black piping around the sleeve seams, stripes on the bands for interest, and a lining. It was easy to make and turned out well, but I did not care for the shape. 

I was afraid  McCalls 7100 would fit too much like a sweatshirt, but gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the fit. I used brown faux leather for the front and back, and a very soft, lightweight brown denim for the sides and arms. 

I embellished the front with the Painted Roses design, #4079, from Urban Threads. The jacket pattern has no lining, but as I love lined jackets I added one in a blue and brown stripe.

I liked the fit and style of this jacket so much I made a second one. This time I used a soft black faux leather for the body, and a heavy wool-like polyester for the sleeves and sides and I lined it with black brocade. Cuffs, collars, and zippers were purchased from WAWAK. This jacket is very warm. I embroidered Urban Threads #1454 Koi and Lilies on the back, and one single lily on the front.

I added a cell-phone-sized welt pocket to the front of the lining and embellished it with a tiny dragon applique created using Urban Threads #13803, Passport to China-Dragon.

The challenge is long over, but I wanted to make a spring jacket. I spent a lot of time distressing and fatiguing my army green cotton duck yardage to soften it and give it some character. I used the washer, dryer, and clothesline, along with a variety of laundry products for this. Butterick 5927, view D was my starting point. This basic double breasted pattern is very simple and lends itself to achieving the military look I was after. 

I made the sleeves the focal point of the jacket. I carefully combined the upper sleeve of B5927 and the lower sleeve of V1036, eliminating the bell shape at the bottom. I love the seaming detail on the Vogue sleeve. 

I embroidered Urban Threads #6403 Elven Court Knot Cascade as a monocolor design on the top half of the sleeve prior to assembly. I also added plackets to the shoulders using a shortened version of the back placket pattern. The jacket has a dark green peach skin lining and military style buttons. It is extremely comfortable to wear. 

Jacket season is almost over until fall- or is it? If I have time in the busyness of summer, I just might make myself a sheer bomber jacket.